Castle Rackrent, Maria Edgeworth — 5th Edition

£149.99

Castle Rackrent, Maria Edgeworth — 5th Edition

Name: Castle Rackrent, Maria Edgeworth — 5th Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 3436-?-VG-
Price: 149.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, J. Johnson and Co., 1810

Formatting: 8vo.

Condition Report: Very Good. This volume earns its grade largely due to its remarkable structural integrity, with the early nineteenth-century quarter-leather binding remaining unusually square and firm for its age. While light wear is evident to the extremities, including anticipated rubbing to the corners, board edges, and hinges, alongside general surface scuffing to the marbled boards, this wear is entirely superficial and does not detract from the book's shelf presence. The spine remains a visual highlight, featuring four prominent raised bands accented with gilt tooling and a bright, unblemished brown title label that commands attention despite minor surface marks across the dark, cross-hatched blind-tooled panels. Internally, the volume is thoroughly sound; the pages exhibit light handling marks and age-appropriate toning, yet remain pleasingly bright, clean, and fresh overall. A highly presentable, handsome copy.

Catalogue Note: This early nineteenth-century printing represents the Fifth Edition of Maria Edgeworth's seminal work. Issued in an attractive quarter-leather binding over marbled boards, it beautifully reflects typical period binding practices for popular literature of the era.

The text was issued unillustrated, relying entirely on Edgeworth's vivid prose to depict the tragicomic decline of the Rackrent estate. As an early printing following the novel's initial explosive success, this edition remains a highly desirable acquisition for collectors of historical fiction and Anglo-Irish literature, especially scarce in such an undisturbed, original-leaning state.

Widely regarded as the first historical novel and the first regional novel in English literature, Castle Rackrent is a pioneering and sharply satirical masterwork. Through the distinctive, colloquial voice of the loyal but unreliable estate steward, Thady Quirk, Maria Edgeworth chronicles the chaotic decline of the Irish landed gentry across several generations of the Rackrent family. Set against the backdrop of an evolving Ireland before the year 1782, the novel brilliantly and humorously exposes the mismanagement, extravagance, and absurdities of the Anglo-Irish estate system.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Maria Edgeworth

Book Publisher: Johnson & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Antiquarian Literature

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 216

Book Publication Year: 1810

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Quarter Leather

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.